Electrical connector



Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Sept. 2l 1951 W. A. SAUL ETAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR llwxmmm 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 6, 1953 w. A.- SAUL. ET Al. 2,654,872

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 1 Filed sept. 21, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 14953 2,654,872 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Waldo A. Saul, Lexington, and Jack J. Staller, Waltham, Mass., assignors to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Newton, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1951, Serial No. 247,602

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly `to the type that permits initial contact to be made under slight pressure with full Contact pressure applied afterthe initial contact is made.

In electrical connectors, it is desirable to have both the best possible electrical contact and the greatest possible ease in connecting and disconnecting the conductors. With demourrtable connectors the contact is usually obtained by spring pressure; the greater the pressure the greater is the electrical contact, but the greater the pressure the greater is the amount of force required to make and break the connection with a consequent increase in the risks of damage to` the equipment being connected. If lthe parts could be physically brought into contact position under light pressure and then the pressure increased to insure good electrical contact, and the pressure released before disconnecting, the desired high pressure at the contacting surfaces necessary for good electrical conductivity could be Obtained While the current is owing through the connector, while at the same time this greater pressure could be reduced while the connection was being made or broken to avoid fthe necessity for using great force during these Operations.

This is accomplished in the .present invention by providing a rotatable eccentric cam shaft designed tO apply pressure to the contact elements when the shaft is in one position and no pressure when in another position. A lock is also provided to bring the conductors together as the shaft is rotated from the release position to the pressure exerting position.

The result is a connector that may be positioned easily, locked into good contact and released and removed readily without damage to the associated apparatus or distortion of the contacting members.

Other and further advantages of this invention will be apparent as the description thereof progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the jack;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the plug of the connector;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the jack as seen from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the plug as seen from the bottom of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the plug of the connector taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the jack and plug of the connector when joined but .not locked; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View through the jack and plug of the connector when joined and locked.

In Fig. l, the jack as a whole is represented by the numeral it. This comprises a supporting structure II in which is mounted a plurality of conductive contacting members I2 made of a resilient conductive material, such as beryllium copper, and each formed with a connecting lug i3 projecting beyond the mounting structure Il to which the circuit wires (not shown) are oonnected. These contacting members I2 are held in place by a back plate I4. A cam shaft I5 is mounted along the main axis of the supporting structure II between the two rows of contacting members I2. This shaft I5 protrudes beyond the structure II at one end where it is tted with a handle which may be, as shown in Fig. 1, a secltion of rod I6 pivotally attached to the shaft I5 by a pin IT. The shaft I5 is fitted with a sleeve I8 of bakelite or other insulating material shaped to a cam profile having a minimum diameter insufficient to exert pressure on the contacting members I2 and a maximum diameter suflicierrt to exert pressure on the members I2 and give them a certain lateral displacement. The points 20 of minimum diameter of the shaft I5 are brought nearest the members I2 when the shaft I5 is in the released position. The points of maximum diameter 2| are in contact with the members I2 when the shaft I5 is in the lock position. One end 22 of the shaft I5 is formed with the same cam profile as the sleeve I8 but need not be insulated for a :purpose to be described of a spring detent (best shown in Fig. 7) comprising a leaf spring 23 mounted on a plate 2,4 attached to the bottom of the structure II. leaf spring 23urges upward a pin 25 slidably mounted in a hole 26 in the structure Il. This pin 25 urges upward a ball 21 into contact with the cam surface 22 that has a depression 28 at the maximum diameter point 2I and another depression 30 at the minimum diameter point 20. Thus the shaft I5 can be easily moved from one position to the other and when in one position or the other will be retained there against jars. The handle I6 may be provided with a similar detent (not shown) to retain it either coaxial with the axis of the shaft I5 when in use.

This

In Fig. 2, the numeral 3l generally designates the plug portion of the connector comprising a supporting structure 32 in which are mounted contacting elements 33 made of resilient conductive material, such as beryllium copper, arranged in two parallel rows equidistant from the axis of the structure32 sovthat, when the plug 3 I and the jack IU are brought together, the contacting ele:- ments 33 will be symmetrically arranged on either side of the cam shaft I5. At either end of the row of contact elements 33, there is mounted a locking device 34 formed with a slot -*having an opening 35 as large as the minimum diameter yof the cam shaft I5 and an interior Width .egual to the maximum diameter of the .camshaft `1:5.. The opening 34 thus forms a latch with a lip 36 under which the uninsulated portion `2,2 .of .the nshaft .L5 is caught to lock the two parts of the connector securely together. This will be best seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8.

A-gasket 31 lines the inner wall of the supporting structure 32 of the plug and protrudes .from it to form a water-tight seal when the plug and jack are joined. 1The .connector elements `33 are each formed with a crimp 33 upon which they are supported V on a vpla-te 40 of insulating material in which they penetrate by means of slots 4I into a space 4 2 formed by a lower box 4.3 of Ainsulating material where they prov-ide lugs to which the circuit wires may be connected after passing through an opening in va collar 44.

Fig. 7 shows the lplug I0 inserted into the jack 3I with the shaft I5 in the release position. It will be seen that the connecting elements I2 of the plug II) have been inserted between the corresponding connecting elements 33 of the jack 3|. However, as the portion 20 of the cam surface lIt having the least diameter is positioned in contact with the connecting elements I2, these elements are permitted to lie close together and exert minimum pressure upon the connecting elements ,33 of the jack. It will also be seen that the portion 22 of the shaft I5 lies within the opening as in the locking device 34 of the iaek 3l and SD is in a position as to be easily withdrawn.

However, in Fig. 8, the shaft I5 has been rotated ninety degrees so that the cam surfaces 2l of maximum diameter are presen-ted to the cons necting elements I2 of the plug I0 and have forced these elements and their associated con-V necting elements 33 on the jack outward so as to exert maximum contact pressure. It -will also be seen that the cam surface y22 is now caught under the projection 36 of the locking device 34 so that the plug I0 is pulled tightly down within the jack 3I.

To assure proper alignment, alignment pins 5 are provided on the jack SI. These pins fit into holes 46 on the plug I0.

When it is desired to disconnect the connector, the shaft I5 is rotated into the release position by the handle I5 which releases the pressure on the contact elements I2 and 33 of the plus 3l and jack Io, respectively, and presents the narrow dimension. of the cam surface `22 to the Opening 35 in the locking device 34 so that the plus may be removed from the jack with the application of a minimum of force.

This invention iS not limited t the particular details of construction, materials and processes described, as many equivalents will Suggest-them selves to 4those ,skilledin the art. It is accor@ ingly desired that the appended claims be given 4 a broad interpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention within the art.

What is claimed is:

l. In an electrical connector, a first group of resilent contact members mounted in a first supporting structure in two parallel rows, a cam shaft mounted parallel to and Ibetween the rows of the .contact members, :said Scam shaft having a cross section with portions of a large diameter and other portions of a small diameter, the portion of small diameter fitting freely between the Irows of contact members, the portion of large diameter when adjacent to the rows of contact members forcing :them outward, a second group .of nesiflient rcontact members mounted in a second supporting structure in two parallel rows and so v spaced that when the supporting structures are vbrought together with the cam shaft presenting a;,S1.1rf-ace of small diameter to the second group of contact members, these members are in loose contact with the outer surface of the rst group of Contact elements and symmetrically arranged about the cam shaft so that when the vshaft is positioned to prese-nt a surface of major diameter to the contacts they are forced into tight contact, and -latchv means under .control of said cam shaft for lock-ing the supporting structures together.

2. In an electrical connector, a first group of resilient contact members mounted in a first supporting structure in two parallel rows, a cam shaft mounted parallel to and between the rows of .the contact members, said cam shaft having a cross section with portions ofra large diameter and other portions of a small diameter, the portion of small diameter fitting freely between the rows of contact members, the portion of large diameter when adjacent to the rows of contactV members forcing them outward, a second group of resilient contact members mounted in a second supporting structure in two parallel rows and so .spaced that when the supporting structures are brought together with the cam shaft presenting a surface of small diameter to the second group of contact members, these members are in loose contact withy the outer surface of the rst group of contact elements and symmetrically arranged about the cam` shaft so that when the shaft is positioned to present a surface of major diameter to the contacts they are forced into tight contact, and latch means comprising a notched member mounted on an end of the supporting structure for the second group of contacts, the notch formed to readily permit the entrance of the cam shaft with its narrow diameter across the opening and retain the said cam shaft when turned to present the major diameter across the opening.

3. In an electrical connector, a first group of resilient contact members mounted in av first supporting structure in two parallel rows, a cam shaft mounted parallel to andbetween the rows of the contact members, said cam shaft having aV cross section with portions of a large diameter and other portions of a small diameter, the portion of small diameter fitting freely between rows of contact members, the portion of large diam= eter when adjacent tothe rows of contact members forcing them outward, a second groupA of resilent contact members mounted in a second supporting structure in two parallel rows and soY spaced that, when the supporting structuresl are brought together with the cam shaft presenting a surface of small diameter tothe second group of contact-members, these members are in looseA contact with the outer surface of the rst group of contact elements and symmetrically arranged about the cam shaft so that, when the shaft is positioned to present a surface of major diameter to the contacts, they are forced into tight 5 contact, and latch means mounted on the supporting structure for the second group of contact members adapted to engage the cam shaft to lock the supporting structure together.

WALDO A. SAUL. JACK J. STALLER.

8 References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Clark Oct. 7, 1924 Krkman Oct. 18, 1927 De Reamer Oct. 10, 1939 Beal July 7, 1942 

